Firebird Raceway

{{Infobox NRHP

| name = Firebird Raceway

| nrhp_type =

| image = Firebird Raceway (2).jpg

| image_size = 240

| caption = Firebird Raceway in 2019

| location= 8551 Hwy 16, Eagle, Idaho

| coordinates = {{coord|43.767|-116.469|region:US_type:landmark|name=Firebird Raceway|display=inline,title}}

| locmapin = Idaho#USA

| built = {{Start date|1968}}

| builder = Bill New

| added = December 24, 2018

| area = 60 acres

| refnum = 100003243{{NRISref|2013a}}

}}

__NOTOC__

Firebird Raceway is a motorsport racing venue in the western United States, near Eagle, Idaho, in the Boise metropolitan area. The raceway opened {{Years or months ago|1968}} in 1968 under management of racing enthusiasts Bill and Ellanor New, and it has remained under ownership of the New family.

A longstanding member track of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), the raceway has been named NHRA Track of the Year three times.{{cite news |title=Firebird Raceway founder dies at 79 |newspaper=Idaho Statesman |location=Boise, Idaho |date=February 13, 2014}} It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2018, the first dragstrip to be included on the register.The NRHP nomination form had not been digitized as of April 2019. A copy is on file at Idaho State Archives. {{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=100003243}}|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Firebird Raceway |publisher=National Park Service|author= |date= |accessdate=April 21, 2019}} With {{NRHP url|id=08000905|photos=y|title=accompanying pictures}}

Just west of Highway 16 between Star and Emmett, the elevation is approximately {{convert|2700|ft|round=5}} above sea level.

History

Firebird Raceway was incorporated on May 11, 1968, by Ronald Ashley, J.S. Chapman, and J.W. Korn.{{cite news |title=Two Companies Enter Papers to Incorporate |newspaper=Idaho Statesman |location=Boise, Idaho |date=May 11, 1968 |page=32}} Bob Riggle and his Hurst Hemi Under Glass were featured on opening day, July 28, 1968.{{cite news |title=Firebird Raceway to Open Today |newspaper=Idaho Statesman |location=Boise, Idaho |date=July 28, 1968 |page=13}}

In 1969, the raceway hosted one of six Northwest Regional World Championship drag meets.{{cite news |title=Dragsters Open Action with Qualifying Runs at Firebird Raceway |author=Ray Giffin |newspaper=Idaho Statesman |location=Boise, Idaho |date=May 11, 1969 |page=30}} Later that year the raceway hosted the first annual Nitromethane Invitational Championship, a Top Fuel event.{{cite news |title=Firebird Plays Host for Top Fuel Drags |newspaper=Idaho Statesman |location=Boise, Idaho |date=August 29, 1969 |page=23}}

The annual NAPA Auto Parts Ignitor competition began in 1971,{{cite news |title=Still Burning - Firebird Raceway's Ignitor is steeped in history |author=Rachel Roberts |newspaper=Idaho Statesman |location=Boise, Idaho |date=April 29, 2010}} and the Pepsi Nightfire Nationals began in 1972.{{cite web |title=Major Dates Set for 2019 Season |publisher=Firebird Raceway |date=December 25, 2018 |url=https://firebirdonline.com/news/major-dates-set-for-2019-season/ |accessdate=April 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422050049/https://firebirdonline.com/news/major-dates-set-for-2019-season/ |archive-date=April 22, 2019}}

Director Don Almeido's documentary, Firebird Raceway 35th Annual Pepsi Nightfire Nationals, was released in 2007.{{cite news |title=Firebird Raceway fuels focus for new movie - Documentary weaves history with action-packed footage of 35th annual Nightfire Nationals |author=Chad Dryden |newspaper=Idaho Statesman |location=Boise, Idaho |date=May 22, 2007 |page=14}}

References

External links

{{commons category-inline|Firebird Raceway}}
[https://firebirdonline.com/ Firebird Raceway] official website

Firebird Raceway

History

References

External links

Further reading